Improvement in snatch-blocks



M. H. T'ARBOX.

Snatch-Block.

Patented l an.15,1878.

WPETERSv FHOTOI-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON H. TARBOX, OF LOOKPORT, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO M. H. TARBOX & (30., OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SNATCH-BLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 199,235, dated January 15, 1878; application filed December 14, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON HOLLEY TAR- BOX, of Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, assignor to the firm of M. H. TARBOX & 00., of same place, have made certain Improvements in Snatch-Blocks, of which the following is a specification:

This invention is designed more particularly for use in derrioks of oil-wells, at the top, (for the purpose of drawing the tubing and casing) or in other places where the block is used with the hook down.

In the drawing, the figure represents a perspective of a snatch-block, in which the eyehook a is attached to a swivel-eye, 12, arranged in the strap 0 of the shell A of the block, and by which it can be turned in any direction, and detached from or attached to the tubing d of an oil-well; and the invention consists in providing a snatch-block with the eye-swivel b and loose eyehook a, combined as hereinafter described.

In the snatch-blocks generally used, with the hook down, (or up,) the hook is swiveled to the block, or to the iron head of the strap 0.

The advantage of my construction for special uses, when the hook is to be engaged downward, especially for oil-wells, for which this improvement is designed, is, that the hook, when linked with the swivel, as shown in the drawing, can be easily disengaged from its load without altering the position of the block itself from a vertical or horizontal hanglng. This is shown by the dotted lines in the drawing, as it allows the eye-swivel b to be swung round, and the eye-hook a alone lifted up, or turned, so as to easily disengage it from the bail e of thetubing and clamp f d.

The disadvantage of the ordinary snatchblocks now in use, having a swivel-hook only, is, when the end ofa stri g of tubing is elevated to near the top of the derrick, great difficulty is always experienced in disconnecting the hook from the elevator, or clamps cf, as the shape of the links or bails e of the elevator used is such that the snatch-block has to be turned or changed from a vertical to a horizontal position to allow the hook .to be disengaged, and as the blocks weigh from sixty to one hundred pounds this is not a very easy matter, besides oftentimes injuring the lingers and hands of the men employed. These blocks, with the swivel-hook attached, are also too long and are awkward to handle.

My construction entirely does away with these objections, and my blocks, in consequence, are coming into universal use in oilwell derricks. They have the additional advantage of being easier connected with the bails, 850., than others.

I am well acquainted with the sn atch-blocks as well as tackle-blocks in use, including those constructed with loose swivel-hooks fastened to the rigid eyes, and hooks swiveled to the blocks, and, therefore, believe that a snatch block having a swiveled eye and an eye-hook I connected therewith is new.

I claim As a new article of manufacture, a snatchblock constructed with an eye-swivel, b, and the attached loose eye-hook a, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MYRON H. TARBOX. Witnesses: J. R. DRAKE,

T. H. PARSONS- 

